KOLKATA: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee will launch the ‘Khela Hobe’ programme at Netaji Indoor Stadium on Monday.
The Trinamool’s key political slogan in the run-up to the assembly elections in Bengal is now the state government’s flagship scheme for the youth. The state sports and youth affairs department will hand over 1 lakh footballs to various sporting clubs. Even the ones registered with the IFA will get 10 footballs each, the CM has announced.
Banerjee has said August 16 will be observed as ‘Khela Hobe Diwas’ in the memory of the 16 football fans who died in a stampede during a 1980 game at Eden Gardens. Dedicating the day in this manner will boost sportsman spirit, she added.
Clubs have already enlisted under the scheme and Refugee Handicraft, an MSME unit, is making these ‘Joyee’ footballs. The CM wants to encourage Bengal’s youth to actively participate in sports, especially football, and the Khela Hobe scheme is a big step in that direction.
